The Senate on Thursday approved the extension of implementation of the capital component of the 2025 Budget to September, further shifting a June 30 deadline initially set for the implementation to elapse.
The Senate said the extension was aimed at enabling Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to complete ongoing projects and fully utilise funds already released for capital expenditure.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion moved by Senate Whip, Tahir Monguno, after the chamber suspended Order 1(b) of its Standing Rules to allow immediate consideration of the matter.
Leading debate on the motion, Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, said the extension had become necessary because a substantial portion of funds released for capital projects remained unspent.
He attributed the hitch to procurement timelines, project execution challenges and other administrative processes despite the release of the funds to the MDAs.
According to him, “The 2025 Appropriation Act was enacted to provide funding for the implementation of government programmes, projects and activities aimed at promoting economic growth, infrastructure development, national security and the welfare of Nigerians.”
Bamidele warned that several strategic projects nearing completion across the country could be jeopardised if the implementation window was not extended.
“A number of strategic capital projects across critical sectors of the economy are at advanced stages of completion and require additional time for execution, certification and payment,” he said.
Reinforcing Bamidele’s position, Monguno also cautioned that failure to extend the deadline could lead to the abandonment of critical projects and waste of public resources.
“Failure to extend the implementation period may result in the abandonment of critical projects, wastage of already committed public resources and disruption of ongoing government interventions,” he stated.
Following the debate, Senate President Godswill Akpabio put the motion to a voice vote, which received overwhelming support from lawmakers.
The Senate subsequently resolved to amend the 2025 Appropriation Act to extend the implementation period for its capital component by an additional 90 days.
Lawmakers said the extension would improve budget performance, prevent waste and ensure the completion of projects already at advanced stages across the country.
The upper chamber however, clarified that the extension applies only to the capital component of the 2025 budget and is intended to facilitate efficient utilisation of released funds, to enhance service delivery, and to ensure value for money in public spending.
The resolution will be transmitted to the House of Representatives for concurrence before the amendment can take effect.
With the approval, MDAs now have until September 30, 2026, to execute, certify and make payments for capital projects captured in the 2025 budget.
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